Newcastle March 2018

The month in review: Newcastle

By Herron Todd White
March 2018

Stockland Green Hills shopping centre is currently going through a major expansion to cater for the growing population of residents surrounding it. This region in between Maitland and Newcastle appeals to buyers looking for a lower to middle of the range price point in the Hunter region in a convenient location.

To the east are the metropolitan areas of Newcastle and Lake Macquarie and the waterways and beaches of Port Stephens. To the west are the big country towns of Maitland and Singleton as well as the region’s mines and wineries. All these areas are less than an hour’s drive. Added to this is the area’s close proximity to the M1 and A1 motorways allowing for a simple fast exit for those road trips north or south. The area is geographically in the middle of the Hunter region.

The larger residential suburbs in this area are Metford, Thornton, East Maitland, Ashtonfield and Chisholm. With an entry level of around $350,000 for a 3-bedroom home and an upper limit of just over $1 million for a large modern family home with all the bells and whistles, the area offers a wide range of houses for a prospective buyer’s needs and wants.

As the shopping centre is developing, so are the residential suburbs around it, with the region being one of the Hunter’s hot spots for new homes. With families being priced out of the market in Newcastle, the opportunity for a new home within a commutable distance is becoming more attractive.

Like the rest of the Hunter Valley, the region has seen record growth over the past few years, but with the Sydney market on a downturn, there is caution in the current local market. With what seems to be a gradual recovery in the mining sector occurring, a strong demand for affordable family homes, the area’s central location and the soon to be state of the art shopping centre, the growth may continue.